To cut down on algae, try to get some floating pond plants to cover up the pond's surface (algae thrive on sunlight). They will also keep the water temperature down during the hot summer months, so your fish don't boil to death!

you can grow some Cana lilies in the pond.....or yarrow. Don't worry about $4 for a water hyacinth as they multiply very fast and for your $4 you will end up with a pond full by the end of july (pretty good value)...I usually end up throwing armfuls into the compost during the summer. There are some native water Iris that you can try (they are usually cheap...or free if you go hunting and dig out yourself....same for marsh marigolds). Water lilies are long lived so investing some money in one is not so bad...check out home depot they often sell them for about $19....you can also check with friends with ponds and perhaps they will give you a piece of theirs. I have had the same lilly in my pond for over ten years...so that would work out to be about $3 a year I just splurged and got a butterfly koi for that same price on the basis that I expect (if a raccoon doesn't eat it) that it will live for a very very long time...and it was sooooooooo pretty.

did I say Yarrow....sorry...I meant Tarrow...big difference...LOL...it is a tropical that has large leaves that look much like and elephant ear. YOu can take it out in the fall when you take the Canna out...and let it dry out and store it with the Canna in a cool dark place till late winther when you would take it out and start watering it again.

Water lilies don't require any special tretment to over winter....they should be planted deeper in the pond than the other plants you have...they can go three feet to four feet under the water...and just leave them there. In the old days they would be in pots on the bottom of the pond..but it is becoming more common to just plant them on the bottom (you can anchor the roots with some pond soil and aquarium gravel. If it comes in a pot...you can leave it in there for this year. Mine burst throug the pot a long time ago and rooted itself in the gunk that collects at the bottom of the pond over the years. Don't worry about you little fishies...you will be suprised to see how big they will grow.